Health services to improve in Gauteng
Tabling the department’s budget speech for the year 2015/16 in the Gauteng Legislature on Friday, June 19, 2015, MEC Qedani Mahlangu promised to intensify efforts in delivering quality healthcare in the province.
In her opening speech the MEC quoted Italian artist, poet and sculptor; Michelangelo who once said “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark”.
True to this word MEC Mahlangu emphasised that the department owes it to the people of Gauteng to set the bar higher. Every day it must strive to achieve its vision and ensure that it provides high-quality efficient and accessible healthcare to transform the lives of Gauteng residents whose only hope is the public health care sector.
The biggest chunk of the department’s R34, 2 billion budget will be channelled towards intensifying efforts to combat HIV and Aids.
“About R3 billion will directed towards implementing; clinical services and social initiatives to turn the tables against AIDS and moving closer to an AIDS free generation.” said MEC Mahlangu
The MEC further announced that through a vigorous and social mobilisation campaign PASOP, the Department has successfully managed to create a buzz in Gauteng and rekindled a social discourse on risky behaviour and sexual practices which were seemingly overlooked of late.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to increase the provision of Primary Health Care, 33% of the department’s total budget has been allocated to this level of care. “Primary healthcare, as we champion it today, integrates Ward Based Care, Clinics, Community Health Centres and District Hospitals and focuses on the holistic care of each person in the household as well as the health and wellbeing of the broader community,” shared MEC Mahlangu.
Citing an example of a models success- the MEC talked about the Chiawelo Community Practice where Dr Moosa and his team of community health care workers (CHW’s) are going door to door on a daily basis bringing healthcare services to the people of ward 11. The team services 15 000 households and each of the CHW’s has been allocated a specific number of households.
“Through this the department will ensure that community members receive appropriate care, there is a monthly follow up plan in place and most importantly the CHW’s have been able to gain confidence of and build trust with the community they serve”.
“In addition to this, 382 WBOTs have been established and have been placed in wards where there is greatest need. The impact of the outreach programme has most importantly enabled the identification and initiation of care for pregnant women who are not attending antenatal programme and children who have missed immunisation or individuals with communicable diseases, such as TB, but not on treatment who may pose a public health risk and endanger their family members,” said MEC Mahlangu.
Focusing on key health infrastructural projects- MEC stated as one of the examples that the Department intends to commence the construction of five new health facilities in the NHI district of Tshwane. The new clinics to be constructed in this district include Kekana Clinic, Inner City Clinic, Dewagendrift Clinic, Bophelong clinic and Kekanastad clinic. Furthermore, there are planned refurbishment and extensions to 20 existing health facilities in the NHI district area.
MEC Mahlangu also used the platform to commend staff for their hard work, innovation and pronounced that the department is attending to the capacity challenges experienced at the facilities; filling of vacant funded posts has started and Training and Development of all levels of staff members is ongoing.
